Now Live: The Australian News Index
Launching today, the Australian News Index expands on PIJI’s current datasets to include national and non-geographic news producers. Records can be searched, filtered and downloaded.
The need for core-longitudinal industry data was key to the recommendations made by the Regional Newspapers Inquiry earlier this year. PIJI’s new Index fulfills those needs by assisting communities, researchers and policymakers to better understand Australia’s news-media landscape.
Emergency funding for newspapers welcome; sustainability needed
The Coalition’s announcement of a $10 million relief package for regional newspapers affected by the dramatic rises in print production costs (should they be re-elected) will assist in the short term, but must be complemented by long-term solutions.
The Labor Part has flagged its intention to match the Coalition’s commitment.
PIJI welcomes the package, but is also urging all political parties to consider the sustainability of what is ultimately, essential democratic infrastructure. PIJI’s research shows that a public interest journalism tax rebate could be a key piece in the puzzle to long-term industry stability across news producers of all types sizes and geography.
The recent supply chain pressures affecting print production cost are a part of the continuing market volatility clearly illustrated by PIJI’s Australian Newsroom Mapping Project.
PIJI has been working with Country Press Association, Australian Community Media and other print publishers to ensure an incoming government is kept up to date with market developments.
READ PIJI’S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AN INCOMING GOVERNMENT +
Sector Roundup
Blurring the lines: journalism or promotion?
As local news outlets close across the country, some local councils have filled the void with their
own, council run, publications.
While they play a role in keeping communities informed, questions are being raised over whether these publications are making adequate disclosures or if some may be ‘masquerading’ as independent news sources.
Federal Election 2022
As the Australian population’s reliance on social media for their news content rises, efforts are being made to combat false and misleading claims during the 2022 federal election campaign.
First Draft’s Election misinformation playbook explores disinformation and how “perceptions of misinformation can blur with political bias”, RMIT FactLab is fact-checking election content on Facebook and Instagram, and the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) has assisted TikTok in producing an in-app Election Guide.
PIJI’s Mapping Project: April report
The Australian Newsroom Mapping Project April 2022 Report is now online with details of .
PIJI has just released a new dataset in our ongoing mapping work, The Australian News Index. The Index includes national and non-geographic news producers and allows records to be searched, filtered and downloaded.
p.s. If you value PIJI’s mapping work and would like to see it continue, please consider a donation before 30 June.
News
- Coalition pledges $10m funding boost for news gathering program in lifeline for regional newspapers, The Australian, May 8
- Labor pledges to act on anti-siphoning laws, The Australian, May 8
- Regional journalism is dying: advertising subsidies won’t help, The Conversation, April 21
- News Corp buys digital finance group Stockhead to focus on ASX-listed small cap companies, Mumbrella, May 2
- The Australian has launched a new youth title. But who exactly is it for? And why?, The Guardian, April 28
- Take action, don’t just offer words, MEAA tells Australia on media freedom, Asia Pacific Report, May 3
- Stuff-up or conspiracy? Whistleblowers claim Facebook deliberately let important non-news pages go down in news blackout, The Conversation, May 10
Events
Digital News Report: Australia 2022 Launch Chippendale, June 15
The News and Media Research Centre at the University of Canberra is launching the Digital News Report: Australia 2022, in partnership with the Judith Neilson Institute for Journalism and Ideas.